Method and apparatus for the artificial incubation of eggs



June 7, 1932. C. W, ALLEN 1,861,895

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE ARTIFICIAL INCUBATON OF EGGS Filed March 22, 1928- 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9i/L91- a 5 C. W. ALLEN June 7, 193.2.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE .ARTIFICIAL INCUBATION OF EGGS Filed March 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n. m H. W c.

rama .im 1, i932 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE mw. Am, l' BIGTIIBEB, IONTAIA m01) AID APPARATUS FOB THE .ARTIFICIAL UC'UBATIOI 0l' YEGGS Application iled Inch 22, 1938. Serial I0. 283,744.

My invention relates to incubators, and in particular to a novel method of hatching eggs and an apparatus by which the method is carried out.

l In this art it has heretofore been proposed to hatch a plurality of eggs by disposing the anne in a series of containers mounted for movement an incubating chamber, wherein trays or egg containers are rocked in a vertical plane at different stages of the incubation proce. This invention has referen to incubation on a large commerclal scale and aims to provide for the hatching of a large number of eggs a minimum space and under novel conditions not heremfore known to the art.

Among the objects which the invention has in view are: the provision of a. novel method of hatching eg the provision of a novel egg incubation me od wherein a plurality of eggs are caused to move in defined paths relative to an air current within an incubating chamber; to provide in such a method a novel manner of agitating air within an incubating chamber by directional movement of eggs therein; to provide a novel apparatus for out the method; and generally to provide novel structural details in an incubator construction.

This description and the accompanying dra describe and illustrate one practical, pysical embodiment of an apparatus by which the novel method is practiced. It is to be understood that the details shown and described do not constitute limitations upon the invention, but that any desired changes in the structural embodiment may be made as will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. In the drawings Figure 1 is a central vertical section taken through an incubator constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention.

" igure 2 is a horizontal section through the incubator adjacent the upper end thereof. Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the incubator on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary illustration of a portion of the mechanism for imparting movement to the egg trays.

Figure 5 is a detail plan view illustrating a means for admitting fresh air to the incubator.

In detail the incubator consists of an upright circular chamber 5 having aced inner and outer walls between which is disposed an insulating packing 6 of suitable material, and having a closed bottom 7 and a top 8 provided at its center with a depending air conduit 9 extending downwardly into the chamber and terminating at its lower end in spaced relation above the bottom 7. Access to the interior of the chamber is had through a door 10 provided in a side wall thereof, and air is exhausted from the chamber through a vent aperture 11 disposed in the l5 wall of the chamber adjacent the top, or in the top, as desired.

Air is admitted to the incubator through the adjustable openings 9l provided in the cap 9 covering the upper end of the conduit 70 9 and is drawn downwardly therethrough and through the lateral openings 9 provided in the conduit 9 by operation of a fan 12 disposed in the conduit, which acts to force the air over a series of heatelements in the form of coils 13 disposed within 'the conduit below the fan, whereby air is delivered from the open bottom of the conduit in a heated state and is dispersed radially into the chamber.

On the bottom 7 of the incubator chamber 80 and disposed centrally thereon is an annular platform 14 provided with a depending crown gear iiange 15 having constant mesh with a worm gear 16 carried on the inner end` of a shaft 17 extended through the chamber 85 wall and having its outer end operatively geared to power means comprising, in this instance, an electric motor 18 whereby the platform 14 is rotated. This platform 14 is formed with a vertical hub portion 19 seated 90- on a bottom bearing 20 from which extends a fixed vertical stub shaft 21 provided with a gear 22 on its upper end having constant mesh with a. series of radially disposed gears 23 carried at the inner ends of a plurality of 95 tangential shafts 24 journaled in the hub member 19 and in standards 25 carried peripherally by the platform 14. Adjacent their outer ends, these shafts 24 are rovided with worm gears 26 having mesh wit a series 10 of pinions 27 j ournaled in vertical brackets 28 an lin operative connection with pitmen 29 extending vertically into operative connection with vertically slidable rods 30.

At spacedY intervals about the periphery of the platform 14 are secured a plurality of vertical standards 31 ,having` their upper ends secured to aspider 32 having al central bearing against the conduit 9 whereby the platform 14 and the framework comprising the standards 31 and the spider 32 are capable of being rotated as a unit.

Journaled between adjacent pairs of the standards 31 are a plurality of segmental egg containers in the form of sector shaped trays 33. These trays 33 are disposed in vertically spaced relation as clearly shown in Figure 1 and are provided at their inner ends with links 34 having common connection in each series to vertical draw bars 35 in pivotal connection with each of the links 34. To the lowermost tray of each of the segmental series there is attached the upper end of one of the vertically slidable rods 30 so that upon operation of the pinions 27 all of the component trays of each series will be rocked in unison and in a vertical plane with a slight jolting of the trays at the end of the rod stroke. Figure 4 illustrates in detail the operating connection between the upper ends of the vertically sliding rods 30 and the side walls of the trays 33, there being lateral pins 36 carried by the side walls of the trays and having sliding engagement in a slot formed in a T-head 37 carried by each of the rods 30. Each of the trays 33 is provided with a screen bottom 38 whereb a free circulation of air may be had upwar ly through the eggs disposed in the trays.

The air conduit 9 is formed of a suitable heat distributing material such as metal pipe and functions to provide a central heating unit for the chamber. The egg trays are of such dimensions as to lill substantially the space between the central heating'unit and the wall of the chamber when the trays are disposed in horizontal position, as best shown in Figure 2. Suiicient clearance is provided to insure an efficient circulation of air within the chamber.

In the operation of the incubator, the trays 33 are filled with eggs, arranged vertically with small ends down, after which the door l0 is closed and the power means 18 set into operation to cause a continuous rotation of the platform 14 through the mechanism as described. As the platform rotates the superstructure comprising the standards 31 and the radial series of egg trays. will be rotated at a uniform rate. of speed slowly about the central heating unit comprising the conduit 9 at a rate of about one revolution in three minutes. The fan 12 is continuously operated to establish a circulation of air through the chamber drawing it from the top above .the uppermost egg trays and discharging it than the rate of revolution. Due to this compound action it will be apparent that each of the trays is caused to travel in a tortuous path throughout the chamber, being rotated about a fixed center, and at the same time being rocked in a vertical lane and in a direction across the line of air ow within the chamber. By this peculiar movement of the series of trays, the eggs themselves are utilized as a means for agitating the air within the chamber causing an effectual dispersion thereof with a consequent uniform distribution of heat to all the eggs within the chamber.

As before stated, the invention resides more particularly in the novel method of hatching eggs rather than in the specific structural means by which the method is carried out. It will be apparent that I have provided a method of hatching eggs by which a plurality of eggs are arranged at various levels in circumferentially spaced series across a defined line of airflow within a closed chamber wherein the eggs are caused to revolve about a fixed heat distributing center and at the same time are rocked to agitate the air within the chamber.

The term agitate as herein employed has reference to the directional change in the constant air flow, which is accomplished through the tilting of the egg trays. With the inner ends of the trays depressed the upward air flow will be directed outwardly from the central heat tube 9, and as these ends are elevated the air fiow will be directed inwardly toward the tube 9. There is thus a constant directional change in the air low so that it passes freely over the tops and bottoms of the trays, alternating inwardly and outwardly relative to the center tube 9.

I claim:

.1. The method of hatching eggs by re- H5 volving a plurality of eggs through a current of heated air in an incubating chamber, and frequently changing the direction of the air current by frequent movement of the eggs therein in a plane at an angle to the direction 120 of revolution.

2. The method of hatching eggs by causing a plurality of eggs to revolve continuouslyin one direction in an incubating chamber across a current of air intermittently direct- 125 ed in different directions by movement of thc eggs at an angle to the direction of continuous movement.

3. An incubator comprising a chamber,

a plurality of egg containers disposed in said 13 chamber in vertically spaced relation, said trays being divided in vertically aligned series, means for causing a flow of heated air in said chamber, means in said chamber for revolving said containers about a xed center thereln, and means actuated by said last named means for rocking all of sa1d containers in a vertical plane during revolution.

4. The method of hatching e gs by continuously revolving a plurality oeggs' across a current of heated air in an incubatln chamber, with the eggs ositioned small en downwards in vertical y lspaced series, and -constantly alternating the direction of air flow along and over the large and small ends of the eggs by movement of the series of eggs.

5. The method of hatching eggs by revolving a plurality of eg s in an incubating chamber about a fixed eat distributing center, said eggs being arranged in circumferentially spaced series, and at the same time causing each series to rock in a plane containing' the axis of revolution. v

In testimony whereof I aix my si ature.

CLARK W. EN. 

